1997 Cleveland Indians Trades and Transactions

Transactions listed are from October 1 of previous year to April 1 of the following year.

• November 4, 1996

  Kent Mercker granted Free Agency.

• November 13, 1996

  Traded a player to be named later, Jeff Kent, Julián Tavárez and José Vizcaíno to the San Francisco Giants. Received a player to be named later and Matt Williams. The San Francisco Giants sent Trent Hubbard (December 16, 1996) to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade. The Cleveland Indians sent Joe Roa (December 16, 1996) to the San Francisco Giants to complete the trade.

• November 18, 1996

  Dennis Martínez granted Free Agency.

  Tony Peña granted Free Agency.

• November 25, 1996

  Released Nigel Wilson.

• December 10, 1996

  Signed Eric Plunk as a free agent.

• December 12, 1996

  Signed Pat Borders as a free agent.

  Signed Mike Jackson as a free agent.

• December 13, 1996

  Signed Kevin Mitchell as a free agent.

• December 18, 1996

  Signed Chad Curtis as a free agent.

• December 19, 1996

  Signed Terry Clark as a free agent.

  Signed Les Norman as a free agent.

• December 20, 1996

  Ryan Thompson granted Free Agency.

• December 28, 1996

  Signed Tony Fernández as a free agent.

• January 1, 1997

  Signed Casey Candaele as a free agent.

• January 3, 1997

  Signed Mike Busch as a free agent.

• January 17, 1997

  Signed Robby Thompson as a free agent.

• January 22, 1997

  Purchased Sean Mulligan from the San Diego Padres.

• January 31, 1997

  Signed Greg Cadaret as a free agent.

• March 25, 1997

  Traded Alan Embree and Kenny Lofton to the Atlanta Braves. Received Marquis Grissom and David Justice.

• April 21, 1997

  Signed Ryan Thompson as a free agent.

• May 8, 1997

  Selected Jason Jacome off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.

• May 9, 1997

  Traded José Cabrera to the Houston Astros. Received Alvin Morman.

• May 20, 1997

  Signed Torey Lovullo as a free agent.

• June 3, 1997

  Released Kevin Mitchell.

  Drafted Tim Drew in the 1st round (28th pick) of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed July 27, 1997.

  Drafted Dustan Mohr in the 9th round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 15, 1997.

• June 5, 1997

  Traded Ryan Thompson to the Toronto Blue Jays. Received Jeff Manto.

• June 9, 1997

  Traded Chad Curtis to the New York Yankees. Received David Weathers.

• July 3, 1997

  Signed Ángel Miranda as a free agent.

  Released Greg Cadaret.

• July 4, 1997

  Signed Alex Herrera as an amateur free agent.

• July 25, 1997

  Signed Pat Listach as a free agent.

• July 31, 1997

  Traded Jim Crowell, Danny Graves, Damian Jackson and Scott Winchester to the Cincinnati Reds. Received Jeff Branson and John Smiley.

  Traded Steve Kline to the Montreal Expos. Received Jeff Juden.

• August 4, 1997

  Terry Clark selected by the Texas Rangers off waivers.

• August 7, 1997

  Selected Steve Montgomery off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

• August 13, 1997

  Released Julio Franco.

• August 14, 1997

  Released Ángel Miranda.

• August 30, 1997

  Traded Roland de la Maza to the Kansas City Royals. Received Bip Roberts.

• October 8, 1997

  Trent Hubbard granted Free Agency.

• October 15, 1997

  Casey Candaele granted Free Agency.

  Pat Listach granted Free Agency.

  Torey Lovullo granted Free Agency.

• October 29, 1997

  Orel Hershiser granted Free Agency.

  Kevin Seitzer granted Free Agency.

• October 30, 1997

  Tony Fernández granted Free Agency.

• November 3, 1997

  Paul Assenmacher granted Free Agency.

• November 5, 1997

  Jack McDowell granted Free Agency.

• November 7, 1997

  Pat Borders granted Free Agency.

  Bip Roberts granted Free Agency.

• November 12, 1997

  Signed Paul Assenmacher as a free agent.

• November 18, 1997

  Brian Anderson selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 2nd pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

  Albie Lopez selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 48th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

  Herbert Perry selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 68th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

• November 25, 1997

  Selected Chad Fonville off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

• December 1, 1997

  Traded Matt Williams to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Received Travis Fryman, Tom Martin and cash.

• December 5, 1997

  Signed Rich Batchelor as a free agent.

• December 8, 1997

  Signed Dwight Gooden as a free agent.

  Signed Kenny Lofton as a free agent.

  Traded Mike Fetters to the Oakland Athletics. Received Steve Karsay.

  Traded Marquis Grissom and Jeff Juden to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Mike Fetters, Ben McDonald and Ron Villone.

• December 16, 1997

  Signed Pat Borders as a free agent.

• December 18, 1997

  Signed Rheal Cormier as a free agent.

• December 19, 1997

  Signed Torey Lovullo as a free agent.

• December 20, 1997

  David Weathers selected by the Cincinnati Reds off waivers.

• January 6, 1998

  Signed Carlos García as a free agent.

  Travis Driskill player rights sold to Yakult Swallows (Japan Central).

• January 8, 1998

  Signed John Cummings as a free agent.

  Signed John Ericks as a free agent.

  Signed Jason Grimsley as a free agent.

  Signed Jamie McAndrew as a free agent.

• January 13, 1998

  Signed Ron Karkovice as a free agent.

• January 19, 1998

  Signed Jolbert Cabrera as a free agent.

• January 29, 1998

  Signed Gerónimo Berroa as a free agent.

• February 12, 1998

  Signed Mike Butcher as a free agent.

• February 16, 1998

  Signed Shawon Dunston as a free agent.

• February 26, 1998

  Signed Chris Nichting as a free agent.

• March 9, 1998

  Released Chad Fonville.

• March 11, 1998

  Traded Ben McDonald to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Mark Watson.

• March 24, 1998

  Selected Rick Krivda off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.

• March 25, 1998

  Released Carlos García.

• March 30, 1998

  Released Mike Butcher.

  Released Steve Montgomery.

  Traded Sean Casey to the Cincinnati Reds. Received Dave Burba.

• April 1, 1998

  Signed Maicer Izturis as an amateur free agent.